It's rumoured that Toriyama originally wanted to have the series run in 4:3, and that the footage was only cropped for HDTV in Japan. However, with the BRD/DVD releases, this now means that all the opening and ending sequences are cropped to 4:3 from 16:9, right?

I mean, sure, having the whole frame looks a whole lot better than having zoomed in face shots look super zoomed in thanks to cropping, but still... You know what I'm getting at, right? I thought it was intended to be 16:9, and was a better cropping than FUNmiation's "remastered" box sets._________________Madman Fanzone | Youtube | MyAnimeList
PSN: Onibokusu | XBL: SoaringHeredity

As I recall, it's that funny widescreen where you lose only a little at the top and bottom, and gain a little at the sides. Neither 16:9 nor 4:3 are complete croppings of each other.

You mean that weird 14:10/14:9 aspect ratio that they broadcast with in the USA (the one they always use on Australian broadcasts when showing footage from United States broadcasts)? It is wider than regular 4:3, but not as wide as regular 16:9. No TV fits it, but people still use it.

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No idea why Kai isn't 16:9. Japanese broadcaster, perhaps?

As far as my research goes, that seems to be the case. However, more research tells me that in Japan Kai was released on BR/DVD in 16:9 as well. Exactly the same as broadcast! The FUNimation release of Kai is actually 'how it was meant to be viewed' though, seeing as there is less/no cropping (unlike the Japanese release).

Fun fact, right now I can buy the first three Dragon Ball Z Kai collections for only AU$82 (that's including shipping and handling) from Amazon. I'll probably be buying those by the end of the week, seeing as they're both Blu-Ray regions A snd B._________________Madman Fanzone | Youtube | MyAnimeList
PSN: Onibokusu | XBL: SoaringHeredity

The Japanese release on BD was in 4:3, it is 4:3 everywhere in the world.

The only reason why it was 16:9 during broadcast was due to something funky with the broadcasters wanting it that way. You get more of the picture in 4:3 (apart from the newly animated themes of course).

You get more of the picture in 4:3 (apart from the newly animated themes of course)

Aw, I was hoping that the new opening and endings might still be in 16:9. It wouldn't have made the most sense, but it would have kept the full image for all the footage seen in the ani,e_________________Madman Fanzone | Youtube | MyAnimeList
PSN: Onibokusu | XBL: SoaringHeredity

Actually, I do believe the opening and ending themes were animated in 4:3 as well. Basically it airs in 16:9 in Japan because that's what the network wants. 4:3 gives you the whole complete picture for everything, the 16:9 is all cropped._________________I challenged Ash Ketchum to a Pokémon Battle.

I hope that's true. I've never really seen any comparisons for the openings, to see if the openings and endings have been cropped or not._________________Madman Fanzone | Youtube | MyAnimeList
PSN: Onibokusu | XBL: SoaringHeredity

Ah, so you were correct. The new openings and endings are indeed animated in 4:3. Jolly good.

I couldn't get any good comparisons because I could only find 16:9 HD footage, or stretched versions of the 4:3 Nicktoons opening._________________Madman Fanzone | Youtube | MyAnimeList
PSN: Onibokusu | XBL: SoaringHeredity